Chair iron



Aug. 1, 1944. A. R. BYOERNERI CHAIR IRON Filed Jan. 24, 1942 I 2Sheets-Sheet I INVENTORf APT/1 RB PM BY ATTORNEY.

1944- A. R. BOElNER 2,354,736

CHAIR IRON Filed Jan. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ezso 8679 70 INVENTORARTHUR R. BOERNER ATTORNEY LMJXW Patented Aug. 1, 1944 I assent CHAIR,IRON Arthur R. Boerner, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to

Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Company, Wisconsin Automatic ProductsApplication January 24, 1942, Serial No. 428,067

Claims.

This invention relates in general to chair irons and more particularlyto chair irons "for office chairs having an adjustable back adaptable tothe occupant of the chair with which the iron is "associated.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a suitableclamping device to hold the back in vertically adjusted position.

A further object 'of thedevice of this invention lies in the provisionof an adjustment for chair backs which permits manipulation by anyperson even the infirm.

A still further object of this invention lies in the provision of anadjustable back which may be adjusted suitable'to the needs of theoccupant of a chair while the occupant remains seated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention reside in certain novelfeatures of the'construction, and combination of parts hereinafter morefully described in the specification and claims.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a chair iron into which the device ofthis invention has been incorporated.

Figure 2 illustrates one of the members of this invention removed fromthe device with which it is associated for purposes of clarity.-

Figure 3 is across sectional view of the member shown in Figtue 2 takenon the line 33 in the direction indicated by arrows.

' Figure 4 is a view of one element-of the structure.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View takensubstantially on the longitudinal axis of Figure 1 to further illustratethe relation of the back adjusting portion of the iron with the seatadjusting portion thereof.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a chair back with the portions of thebackadjusting iron permanently secured to the frame supporting the back;and

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the pivoting frame of the backadjusting assembly to show the relation of the frame to the channelsformed between the back plate and the back strips and showing theseveral pivoting tabs and the toggle ears struck therefrom.

Referring to the drawings, the invention may be embodied in a chair ironfor office chairs such as the iron shown in Figure l. The numeral l9indicates a head or bracket member having side walls l2 and M to whichthe seat supporting members or spider l8 and I8 respectively are fixedin any suitable manner such as welding or riveting. A rear wall 20integral with the side Walls l2 and I4 is expanded at 22 and formed forof the bracket I bers 32, 34 and the reception of a tension bolt 24. Thebottom It is adapted to cooperate with a spindle, indicated in dottedline in Figure 5, of the type used on all conventional swivel chairs.

The floatable member 26 having arms 28 and 30 connected integrally bythe transverse mem- 36 is rotatably associated with the side walls l2and M by passing a pin 38 through said arms and side walls in the mannershown. The pin 33 carries the floatable member 26 and has bearings inthe side walls l2 and I4 to form a hinge connection between the member26 and said side walls. A spring tfl encircles the bolt 24 and abuts thebearing elements 42 and 44 at its extremities. A tubular'nut 46threadedly engages the bolt 24 and is adapted to compress the spring 40against the bearing 42 which cooperates with the'wedge portion 48 of theend member 32. The spring and its assembly is provided to maintainsuitable adjustable tension against the tiltable back. A gear wheel 50is disposed between the transverse members 34 and 3t and has a hub 52which threadedly interengages the screw 54. The gear 50 meshes with thegear 56 which is keyed to the shaft 58 and which shaft is rotated bymeans of a handle 60 pressed onto said shaft 58. The screw 54 issupported by hearings in the members 34 and 35. The shaft 58 is carriedby a bearing which is integrally related to the arm 30. The screw 54 is.hingedly connected to the adjustable back assembly 62 by a pin 64 whichpasses through the screw 54 and struck out portions 66. -A second pairof struck out side portions or tabs 68 integral with the C shapedelement or pivotal member it are drilled at 14 for the reception of .apin 12 which engages one end of the arms 28 and 3t and passes throughthe openings 14 in the tabs provided therefor. This pin 12 rotatablyconnects the adjustable back assembly -62 to the main seat ironassembly.

The pivotal member 10 comprises a back portion 76, end portions 18 andHand inturned portions 8!] and BI. The inturned portions are slidable inthe grooves 82 formed by the back plate member 84, abutment plate 88 andthe strips 86. The abutment plate 88 is adapted for frictionalengagement with the inturned portions 8 8 and 8| of the second pivotalmember when said inturned portions are urged toward each other as willbe hereinafter more fully described. These laminations 84, 88 and 86form a guide assembly or frictional engaging means for the inturnedportions Bil and 8|. The end portions 18 and 9 are provided withopenings through able back assembly comprising: a pivotal member havingstruck out side portions integral therewith and adapted for pivotalengagement with screwed down tightly against the member 96. 1

When the hand wheel I3, which is integrally related to the tubular nutI02 is turned to urge the nut against the member 96 the leg I5, whichcontacts the free end of the end portion I9, to which the inturnedportion 80 is fixed, forces the inturned portion into frictionalengagement with the abutment member 88 which holds the plate 04 in itsdesired position. The threaded end of the bolt 92, which is associatedwith the hand wheel I3, is displaced from the back plate member 84 toenable an occupant of the chair to freely grasp said hand wheel. Thehead 94 of the bolt 90 which engages the free end of the end portion I8forces the free end inwardly which causes the inturned portion ill tofrictionally engage the center or abutment member 08. Hence turning thehand wheel I3 onto the threaded portion 92 will bring the free ends ofthe pivotal member 10 together whereby the member 88 which isintermedial the introverted members 80 and BI will be securely clampedinto any vertically adjusted position. A stop member 6| having adownturned portion 63 and an upturned portion 65 ment plate 88 in somesuitable manner such as welding or riveting. Uprights 55 associated withthe back plate member 84 may be provided for supporting a chair back,not shown.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a chair iron, an adjustable back assemblycomprising: a pivotal member having struck outside portions integraltherewith and adapted for pivotal engagement with the chair iron; endportions having openings therein, inturned portions associated with saidend portions, said end portions and inturned portions integrally relatedto the body of said pivotal member; guide way assembly adapted to engagesaid inturned portionsand including a back plate member, abutment plateI a headed bolt connecting said end portions and having its threaded endbent away from its main body portion; an L shaped member cooperatingwith said bolt and adapted to engage and strips;

is securely fixed to the abut- 1 body portion;

the chair iron; end portions having openings therein; inturned portionsassociated with said end portions, said end portions and inturnedportions integrally related to the body of said pivotal member; guideWay assembly adapted to engage siad inturned portions; a headed boltconnecting said end portions and having its threaded end displacedangularly from its main an L shaped member having an opening therein forthe reception of said bolt and an end portion of said pivotal member toconstrain its movement; a tubular nut associated with said threadedportion of said bolt; a hand Wheel integrally related to said tubularnut for adjustment of said nut.

2. In combination with a chair iron, an adjustadapted to engage an endportion of said pivotal member to constrain said L shaped member; atubular nut associated with the threaded portion of said bolt; a handwheel integrally related to said tubular nut for adjustment of said nut.

3. In combination with a chair iron, an adjustable back assemblycomprising: a pivotal member hingedly connected to said chair iron; aguide way assembly slidably engaging said pivotal member; a boltinterrelated with said pivotal member and having its threaded enddisplaced angularly from its unthreaded portion; a tubular nut adaptedto engage the threaded end of said bolt; an L shaped element interposedbetween said tubular nut and said pivotal member to clamp said pivotedmember against said guideway assembly.

4. In combination with a chair iron, an adjustable back assemblycomprising: a pivotal member hingedly connected to said chair iron; aguide way assembly slidably engaging said pivotal member; a boltinterrelated with said pivotal member and having its threaded enddisplaced angularly from its unthreaded portion; means for applyingtension to the bolt angularly with respect to the unthreaded port-ion toclamp said pivoted member against said guideway assembly; a stop forlimiting the vertical movement of said guide way assembly.

5. In an adjustable back assembly of the character described, a C shapedelement having open-- ings in either end, and side portions integraltherewith and adapted to swivelly connect said C-shaped element to amain chair assembly, a pair of struck out portions integrally related tosaid C-shaped element and adapted to provide a means for angularadjustment of said back assembly, means cooperating with said O shapedelement to urge the free ends of said element toward each other, anabutment member limiting the movement of said free ends toward eachother, means associated with said abutment member to form a guideassembly for the free ends of said 6 shaped element, a stop to limit thevertical travel of said guide assembly.

' ARTHUR R. BOERNER.

